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Chapter Verse xxvii. 66

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can. So they went and made the fepulchre fure, fealing the stone, and fetting the watch.* Here we find Pilate engaged in a fecond converfation relative to the body of Jefus, in which the wonders exhibited at his death are again un-noticed they boldly call him a deceiver, and exprefs their fears that the fraud will be carried on by his difciples. Neither Mark, Luke, or John, give us any information upon this fubject. We will now proceed to a very interefting matter, The Refurrection. And here the evangelists differ fo exceedingly, that I fear they are irreconcileable: Matthew fays- In the end of the Sab'bath as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the • other Mary to fee the fepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. (Here is ano'ther earthquake of Matthew's, un-noticed by 'the other three) for the angel of the Lord defended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the ftone from the door, and fat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as fnow. (Matthew is fingular in 4 the following addition) And for fear of him the keepers did fhake, and became as dead 'men.' Mark fays And when the fabbath

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was paft, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had brought fweet fpices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning, the first day of

the

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the week, they came unto the fepulchre at the

rifing of the fun.

felves, Who fhall

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roll us away the stone from the door of the fepulchre ? (And when they had looked they faw the ftone was rolled away) 'for it was very great. And entering into the fepulchre, they faw a young man fitting on the right fide, clothed in a long white garment ' and they were affrighted.' (Mary Magdaline affrighted by a handfome young man) Comparing these two records, we find-Matthew's angel fitting upon the ftone without the fepulchre: but Luke's fitting on the right fide within the fepulchre. They however agree with refpect to the two women, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James but when we examine Luke, we shall find to thefe are added Joanna, and other women: that there were two angels, and those ftanding within the fepulchre, viz. Now upon the first

day of the week, very early in the morning, they (the women) came unto the fepulchre, bringing the fpices which they had prepared, ⚫ and certain others with them. And they found the ftone rolled away from the fepulchre; and they

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entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jefus. And it came to pass as they were much ❝ perplexed thereabout, behold two men flood by them in fhining garments, and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they faid unto them,' &c. In vain do we ap

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ply to St. John for a reconciliation, or explanation of these differences; his account increases them, and being a witness of what he relates; perplexes ftill more. He fays- the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early when

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it was yet dark unto the fepulchre, and feeth the ftone taken away from the fepulchre ; then the runeth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other difciple whom Jefus loved, (John himself) And faith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the fepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth and that other difciple, and came to (toward, it should have been as the race was not began) the fepulchre, fo they ran both together, and the other difciple did out-run Peter, and came first to the fepulchre, and he stooping down and looking in, faw the linen cloths laying, yet went he not in. then cometh Simon Peter following him, and

went into the fepulchre, and feeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but 'wrapped together in a place by itfelf. Then

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went in also that other difciple which came first to the fepulchre and he faw and believed. For as yet they knew not the fcripture, that he must rife

again from the dead. Then the disciples went

away again unto their own home. But Mary ftood without at the fepulchre weeping. And

as

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as the
wept, fhe ftooped down, and looked into
the fepulchre, and feeth two angels in white,
fitting, the one at the head, and the other at the

feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.' Here we find, the two Marys of Matthew and Mark; the two Marys, Joanna, and other women of Luke; reduced to Mary Magdalene only. But in lieu of them we have Peter and John,who fatisfy themfelves that the body of Jefus was not in the fepulchre. What their fentiments upon this occurrence were, is not clear: if they were of opinion he was rifen from the dead; they furely would have confoled Mary Magdalene, and have taken her with them but we are told, they left her at the tomb weeping. The words-He faw and believed, may mean; that when he faw the body was not there, he believed the report of Marythey have taken away the Lord out of the fepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.' The Phrafe- For as yet they knew not the Scripture,' &c. rather implies—at this timethey knew not the Scripture, &c.-than-until, of before this time, they knew not the Scripture, &c. Peter and John, it feems, departed without feeing any angel or angels; thefe referved themselves for the women only. We accordingly find, when the men were gone, Mary Magdalene faw two within the fepulchre, but unfortunately for Luke these. were fitting. It is very obfervable, and to me it appears difingenuous, that John when speaking of himself, four times in this fingle ftory, fays

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Chapter Verfe other difciple.' In this manner likewife he fpeaks of himself, when he took the mother of Jefus and in the fix laft verses of his gofpel. Not being able to reconcile thefe differences, or to account for them fatisfactorily; I must leave them as they are, and proceed with MatthewAnd the angel (fitting upon the stone) answered and faid unto the women, fear not ye, for I know that ye feek Jefus which was crucified; he is not here for he is rifen as he said: come 7 and fee the place where the Lord lay. And go ' quickly and tell his difciples that he is rifen from the dead, and behold he goeth before you ' into Galilee; there fhall ye fee him. Lo I have told you. And they departed quickly from the fepulchre, with fear and great joy; and 'did run to bring his difciples word. And as they went to tell his difciples, behold Jefus met them, faying, All hail; and they came and ' held him by the feet and worshiped him. Then 'faid Jefus unto them, be not afraid go tell my

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brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there 'fhall they fee me.' I have already fhewn by John's record, that Mary; the Mary's; or the women gave no fuch account to the difciples: nothing is faid of the inftructions given to them by the angel, or by Jefus: nothing is faid even of their having feen either. On the contrary they fay They have taken away the Lord out ⚫ of the fepulchre; and we know not where they

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